Looking eastward along the row. Copyright: George Currie
A single stone row measuring 13.5m long, including three large recumbent slabs situated on a ridge with far reaching views. The row is orientated ENE to WSW and the eastern slab has at least a pair of cup-marks on its upper surface. A small “closed sea triangle” is visible from the row.
Location
| Scotland | Perth and Kinross | Central Scotland | NO 17488 24837 |
| Lat 56.408531 Long -3.3387427 | |||
Map showing the location of Commonbank stone row.
Plan of Commonbank stone row (Source: survey by Sandy Gerrard and George Currie at 1:100).
Characteristics
| Type: Single | Length: 13.5m |
| No. of stones: 3 | Size of stones: Only large |
| Orientation: 77° | Altitude: 203m |
| Upper end: Stone circle? | Lower end: – |
| Straight (Yes or No) : | Sea View: Yes |
| Context: – | |
| Notes: | |
Other Information
| Public Access: Yes |
| Land Status: |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument: No |
Identification
Category: Plausible. Despite considerable dumping of clearance stone in the vicinity, no doubts have been expressed regarding the prehistoric identification of this row.
Photographs
Looking east along the row. Note the small closed sea triangle above the ranging rod (Scale 1m).
View from above and west (Scale 1m).
View from above and north west (Scale 1m).
View from above and north east (Scale 1m).
View from above and north (Scale 1m).
Individual Stones
Plan of Commonbank stone row showing the position of the numbered stones shown below.
Stone 1
Stone 1 is recumbent, measures 2.2m long by 0.8m wide and stands up to 0.7m high. View from south (Scale 1m).
View from north west (Scale 1m).
View from north (Scale 1m).
Stone 2
Stone 2 is recumbent, measures 1.4m long by 0.8m wide and stands up to 0.3m high above the ground surface. View from west (Scale 1m).
Over the years stones cleared from the field have been piled up next to the stone. View from north west (Scale 1m).
View from north (Scale 1m).
Stone 3
Stone 3 is recumbent, measures 1.8m long by 1m wide and stands up to 0.7m high above the ground surface. Three cup marks have been recorded on the upper surface of the stone.
View from north west (Scale 1m).
View from above highlighting cup mark and possible rock art (Scale 1m).
Stone Circle?
A grouping of stones at the western end of the stone row have been identified by the Royal Commission as a small four poster stone circle. Given the amount of cleared stone in the area combined with the irregular arrangement of the stones, this identification should be considered as uncertain at best. View from north (Scale 1m).
View from above and west of the “possible” stone circle with the stone row row beyond (Scale 1m).
Sea Triangle
A tiny triangle of sea is visible from the stone row. The inclusion of this view feels deliberate within a landscape where views of the sea are rare.
Access Information
Car parking is available at Commonbank Farm (NO 17819 24560) but permission should be obtained before parking.
Acknowledgments
George Currie helped with the survey work.
Online Resources
Megalithic Portal Modern Antiquarian Canmore Discovery and Excavation 1973 (pg. 44)
Discovery and Excavation 1964 (pg. 44)
Other References
Burl, A., 1993, From Carnac to Callanish – The prehistoric rows and avenues of Britain, Ireland and Brittany, Yale University Press, New York and London, pg. 224.
Ruggles, C.L.N., 1999, Astronomy in prehistoric Britain and Ireland, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 197.
Timeline
VISITED:- 6th July 2018
FIRST PUBLISHED:- 12th February 2016
LAST UPDATED:- 14th August 2018
